Editor's blog

  • Miss Management: it may take a village, but it’s probably best if the villagers don’t have torches and pitchforks

    January 23, 2012 | Galynn Nordstrom
    Since the advent of the Internet, it’s a lot easier to get the word out—and a lot harder to pick the important stuff out of the electronic clutter. Read more...

  • ForeThought: Making history

    January 1, 2012 | Galynn Nordstrom
    If you regularly read this magazine cover to cover (or if you start at the back out of some misguided sense of editorial inequity), you probably noticed that in our December issue, my favorite page of the magazine (“Beginnings,” opposite the back cover) was replaced with “Celebration of a Century,” which highlights the evolution of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and the specialty fabrics industry, decade by decade. Read more...

  • ForeThought: Power of the collective

    December 1, 2011 | Mary Hennessy
    At the end of October, I became the interim executive vice president of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), taking over from Steve Warner, who led IFAI for the past 25 years. During that time, IFAI experienced growth in members and programs. Read more...
  • There will never be another 1995 Saturn SL2, unless Detroit wises up. Photo: Christopher Tschida.

    Miss Management: The cry of the consumer, part II

    November 23, 2011 | Galynn Nordstrom
    The story so far: Last week, I used some current “intimate marketing” trends to illustrate my reluctant search for a replacement for my 1995 Saturn SL2, and the surprising lack of drive of the salespeople I met during my rounds of nearby dealerships. This week: that all-important human touch makes a sale. Read more...
  • There will never be another 1995 Saturn SL2, unless Detroit wises up. Photo: Christopher Tschida.

    Miss Management: intimate marketing and auto erraticism, or the cry of the consumer

    November 17, 2011 | Galynn Nordstrom
    Last July (From IQ to HQ®), I had learned about DervalResearch’s “neuromarketing,” which combines cutting-edge neuroscience with marketing research. Read more...

  • ForeThought: Expanding retractable shade

    November 1, 2011 | Janet Preus
    In preparation for special coverage of retractable and roll-up shade products in this issue, Specialty Fabrics Review conducted an informal survey of suppliers and end product manufacturers in the shade products market with the purpose of determining the issues we should address and the questions we should ask. Read more...

  • Miss Management: Occupy Main Street, 87 years and counting

    October 19, 2011 | Galynn Nordstrom
    Next year, IFAI will celebrate its 100th anniversary, and I’m already trying to decide which champagne I should bring with me to IFAI Expo Americas 2012 in Boston. Read more...

  • ForeThought: By the numbers

    October 1, 2011 | Galynn Nordstrom
    Next year, the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) celebrates its 100th anniversary. We’ll start the countdown at IFAI Expo Americas 2011 in Baltimore later this month, and wind up with a significant bash next November in Boston, a city with a few claims to history also. In the Review as well, we’ll look backwards—and forwards—at the continuing evolution of the specialty fabrics industry, and some of its more memorable moments. Read more...

  • Miss Management: blanket policies and class actions

    September 16, 2011 | Galynn Nordstrom
    In 2012, the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) will celebrate 100 years in business. (Specialty Fabrics Review magazine, a mere hanger-on, won’t celebrate its centennial issue until 2015.) This morning, at our staff meeting, the creative team—a bunch of Starbucks-crazed editors and a few correspondingly wary graphic designers—met to talk about ways in which we can help to commemorate this seminal occasion, both in our publications and next year at IFAI Expo Americas 2012 in Boston. Read more...

  • Miss Management: Is there an app for that?

    August 15, 2011 | Galynn Nordstrom
    Last Wednesday, IFAI enjoyed a long-awaited visit from Hal Hunnicutt, vice president of marketing at Glen Raven, Ron Paratore, vice president of sales at Tri Vantage®, and Mark Brock, vice president and director of public relations for Wray Ward, their communications and marketing agency. Read more...